Architecture BA(Hons)

International requirements and visas

We can help you meet our English language or academic entry requirements.

Visas and immigration advice

Portfolio advice 

Online portfolios are requested via the admissions portal after applications are received. Applicants will be advised where to send the portfolio to at that time. Applicants should not send or forward portfolio before this.

Your portfolio should be created on a blogging site: Carbonmade, Dropbox or Flickr. Please make sure that the portfolio is publicly viewable and does not require a log in or account to view. The portfolio should include up to 20 images of your work (.jpg). These should include preparatory drawings and studies as well as finished pieces, and be focused as much as possible on work which you are most actively interested in pursuing.

Please note that we do not expect to see architectural work; we are looking for a variety of work in different media showing your ability to experiment and utilise different media and techniques. At least half the images should be non-computer (CAD or other) generated work. You may want to add a brief statement about your images and work, telling us more about the ideas and interests that underpin your current work, and your ambitions.

Find out more about how to create and submit your portfolio.

Why choose Brighton?

• Friendly studio environment, working in collaboration with other students from all years of the degree to develop your creative voice.
• Our links with RIBA South East provide opportunities including mentoring and mock interviews with practising architects. 
• Develop real-world skills, learning through projects with local communities and from the construction of our annual exhibition pavilion.
• Learn with a course team of practising architects, researchers and designers who’ll inspire you to explore diverse fields in your work.
• Showcase your work throughout the course culminating in the end of year show.
• Focus on the issues that matter to you and develop your own attitudes as an architect and designer.
• Combine making, drawing and building with high-level academic conceptual and theoretical work.

Warning

The following video contains bright, flashing lights and/or imagery that may cause discomfort and/or seizures for those with photosensitive epilepsy. Viewer discretion is advised.

Structure and study areas 

One of the amazing things about studying architecture is how broad a subject it can be. It's not just a combination of art and science, it’s a fusion of all kinds of different ways of thinking and making. You will work in a way that is both hands on and academically rigorous, combining critical and creative thinking in everything you do.

The course is organised in four subject areas: design studio, humanities, technology and professional practices.

Design Studio

You will be supported by specialist practitioners and researchers, benefitting from their expert insight. Dedicated studio spaces mean that you have a space to work from every day throughout your degree, so you will be able to maximise the ambition of your work.

Humanities

Explore the history, theory and culture of architecture. You will do this in relation to contemporary issues, learning from history not just about it. You will build knowledge of the context in which you are working as well as specialising in an area of particular interest to you. You will develop skills in critical thinking and reflection that will feed into all your studies. 

Technology

You’ll learn the underlying principles of environmental science, structural engineering, and material systems, and apply these to your own design projects. You will be supported by professional architects who will share their knowledge of innovative approaches to how to construct a building.

Professional Practices

Prepare for the roles and responsibilities you will have as an architect. You’ll apply aspects such as building regulations, cost control, and planning permission to your own project, so you are ready for your first job.

Year 1 

You’ll begin by studying two modules (humanities and design) that introduce you to the culture of architecture, leading to the production of a small design and essay. Study then builds on the core design skills through slightly larger and more complex design problems in studio while introducing key technological principles.

Modules

• Design and Communication

  This module introduces the foundational skills needed for architectural design.

  You will learn to analyse existing buildings from multiple geographic contexts, considering design in relation to materials, structures, cultures, and histories.

  You'll develop your communicative and representational skills using analysis and creative exploration, and learn to express and test your thinking on paper using a range of media.

• Design Studio

  This module will expose you to a broad range of architectural concerns, from site context through to material construction. You will develop and expand upon investigations and skills initiated earlier in the academic year to produce a design for a small to medium sized building in response to a given brief.

• Architectural Humanities 1

  The module introduces you to the history and theory of architecture. It pays particular attention to the development of modern architecture since the 18th century. This will include its sociopolitical, cultural, and environmental contexts as well as its relations to traditional building and non-Western architecture. You will learn to interpret writings and buildings, to develop your reading and writing skills, and to make use of the fundamental conventions of academic writing.

• Technology: Principles

  This module introduces structural systems, construction methods, materials and environmental performance requirements fundamental to high quality spatial design and architecture today.

  You will explore the technological principles relevant to sustainable and climate responsive design, through a series of lectures and workshops, precedent analysis, model making and presentation.

  The aim is to cultivate your appreciation and understanding of various technologies as fundamental design tools within the architectural and spatial design professions.

Year 2 

Modules

• Design Studio:Context
• Vertical Studio 1
• Architectural Humanities 2
• Technology: Strategies

At the start of the second year the studio focus on retrofit and re-use is supported by the technology module. The humanities module introduces current critical debates and prepares you for the research part of your dissertation.

In the second half of the year you will choose from projects (studios) that follow different briefs and methodologies, and address challenges including the housing crisis, circular economy and urban space. These studios allow you to explore different ways of working and develop new techniques and skills.

Find out more about our BA Studios.

Final year

You will work on design project incorporating technological strategies and detail drawing of your proposal. You’ll integrate technological strategies with a design project, addressing environmental performance, material selection, construction methods, structure, and sustainable design.

The humanities dissertation is based on a self-defined research project helping you identify areas you want to specialise in.

In Professional Practices you’ll learn how to address regulations, legislation and professional responsibilities by applying them to your second-year final design project.

 Your studies will culminate in your final project which you will showcase at the graduate show.

Modules

• Design and Technology
• Vertical Studio 2
• Architectural Humanities 3: Dissertation
• Professional Practices

Facilities 

Facilities and workshops are supported by full-time specialist technicians and include:

• dedicated studio spaces for each group and programme
• specialist model-making and construction workshops with equipment for fabrication in wood, metal, plastics, resins and textiles
• photographic studios and darkroom
• digital fabrication facilities including laser cutting and 3D printing
• rapid prototyping, 5-axis milling and CNC routing facilities
• PC and Mac computer suites with software including Adobe suite (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator), Vectorworks, Autodesk suite, Rhino, Blender, Maya, Cinema 4D and Premiere
• in-house reprographic department 
• wide range of surveying and audio-visual equipment available for loan.

Check out the 360 videos of our workshops and photography studio. 

Meet the team

Student views

Zenida Fernandes, Architecture BA(Hons) graduate 2023

"I am excited to use my skills and knowledge as an undergraduate student to contribute to the creation of new ideas that will improve and enhance the lives of those who inhabit them.  

I have thoroughly enjoyed my time studying at the university of Brighton. The tutors are very knowledgeable, helpful and are great at guiding you in the right direction with your projects. The university facilities are excellent, and I was able to make use of the library and on-campus workshop, which has helped me to expand my knowledge and develop my model making skills."

Nasko Kondakov, Architecture BA(Hons) graduate 2023

"The course prepared me for precisely what’s ahead of me – collaboration with the nature surrounding us all. In a world where sustainability and environmentalism are taking centre stage, Architecture at Brighton equipped me with the skills necessary to have a head start in the revamping industry. 

I learned a lot about spatial experiences, material consciousness, design processes, aspects of the profession which I will forever treasure. I’m excited to see what comes next."

A cross-section of Nasko Kondakov's final year project

Course fees

The fees listed here are for the first year of full-time study if you start your course in the academic year 2024–25.

You will pay fees for each year of your course. Some fees may increase each year.

UK undergraduate and some postgraduate fees are regulated by the UK government and increases will not be more than the maximum amount allowed. Course fees that are not regulated may increase each year by up to 5% or RPI (whichever is higher).

If you are studying part-time your fee will usually be calculated based on the number of modules that you take.

Find out more

• Fees, bursaries, scholarships and government funding info for UK and international undergraduate and postgraduate students
• Student finance and budgeting while studying
• About the university’s fees by checking our student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf).

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